“If our religion is truly the truth and the Gospel is truly the Word of God, then we must believe and live according to it, even if we were the only ones” (St. Bonaventure).
This is the demand of the truth that we cannot ignore if we take our Catholic faith seriously. Some may find it difficult to draw this conclusion and live accordingly, since doing so would bring them into conflict with the spirit of the world and could even affect their closest relationships. However, these concessions weaken the faith and also inner coherence. It will then be difficult to endure trials, disadvantages and persecution for the sake of faith.
How does our Heavenly Father see this? The answer becomes clear if we consider what is testified in the Old and New Testaments: the truth is God Himself. Jesus explicitly affirms this: “I am the truth” (Jn 14:6). Therefore, following the truth means following God. In many Old Testament stories, we see that God does not tolerate idolatry, but regards it as a serious aberration with far-reaching consequences, because the truth has been rejected and the doors have been opened to lies and deception. There are numerous examples of this. For the sake of truth, one may even give one’s life, since it would be to die for God.
The Catholic religion is the truth, and the Gospel is truly the Word of God. With God’s grace, we must hold fast to this, especially in times when the “great deception” has seduced many people.